National Symbols of Mexico: The Anthem bicentenario.gob.mx go to original October 06, 2009
Listen to the National Anthem Instrumental
Chorus
In 1853, Antonio López de Santa Anna held a contest to choose the lyrics and music to a national anthem “so that a truly patriotic song can be adopted by the government as the permanent national anthem” as stated in the contest rules published on November 12, 1853. The jury chose as the winning composition one that began “We fly into combat, to revenge ourselves/And let he who denies himself hope/Hide his cowardly head in the dust.” The author of the chosen verses was a poet from San Luis Potosí, Francisco González Bocanegra. However, the music composed by Juan Bottesini was not to the taste of the public, so another contest was held to choose the music for Bocanegra’s words. Fifteen musical compositions were received, and one entitled “God and Liberty” was chosen, but the composer was identified only as J.N. An advertisement was published asking that the composer identify himself. On August 12, 1854, it was reported that the composer of the winning music was Jaime Nunó, a Catalan musician who was directing military bands in Mexico at Santa Anna’s invitation. The national anthem was played for the first time on September 15, 1854 in the Santa Anna Theater, which shortly thereafter changed its name to the National Theater. After 1854, the lyrics underwent several more changes to reflect the political changes in the country. The anthem, sometimes unofficially called "Mexicanos, al grito de guerra" (“Mexicans, at the cry of war”) after the first line of the chorus, consists of ten verses and a chorus. As officially adopted in 1943, the full national anthem consists of the chorus, 1st stanza, 5th stanza, 6th stanza and 10th stanza. The official lyrics of the national anthem are as follows:
National Anthem of Mexico
Coro: Mexicanos, al grito de guerra el acero aprestad y el bridón. Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra, al sonoro rugir del cañón. ¡Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra, al sonoro rugir del cañón!
Chorus: Mexicans, at the cry of war, make ready the steel and the steed, and may the earth tremble its centers at the resounding roar of the cannon. And may the earth tremble its centers at the resounding roar of the cannon.
Estrofa I: Ciña ¡oh Patria! tus sienes de oliva de la paz el arcángel divino, que en el cielo tu eterno destino por el dedo de Dios se escribió. Mas si osare un extraño enemigo profanar con su planta tu suelo, piensa ¡oh Patria querida! que el cielo un soldado en cada hijo te dio.
First Stanza: Let gird, oh country, your brow with olive by the divine archangel of peace, for in heaven your eternal destiny was written by the finger of God. But if some enemy outlander should dare to profane your ground with his step, think, oh beloved country, that heaven has given you a soldier in every son.
Estrofa V: ¡Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente De la patria manchar los blasones! ¡Guerra, guerra! Los patrios pendones En las olas de sangre empapad. ¡Guerra, guerra! En el monte, en el valle Los cañones horrísonos truenen, Y los ecos sonoros resuenen Con las voces de ¡Unión! ¡Libertad!
Stanza V: War, war without quarter to any who dare to tarnish the country's coat of arms! War, war! Let the national banners be soaked in waves of blood. War, war! In the mountain, in the valley, let the cannons thunder in horrid unison and may the sonorous echoes resound with cries of Union! Liberty!
Estrofa VI: Antes, patria, que inermes tus hijos Bajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen, Tus campiñas con sangre se rieguen, Sobre sangre se estampe su pie. Y tus templos, palacios y torres Se derrumben con hórrido estruendo, Y sus ruinas existan diciendo: De mil héroes la patria aquí fue.
Stanza VI: Oh country, ere your children, defenseless bend their neck beneath the yoke, may your fields be watered with blood, may they leave their footprints in blood. And may your temples, palaces and towers collapse with horrid clamor, and their ruins continue on, saying: Of a thousand heroes, this country was.
Estrofa X: ¡Patria! ¡Patria! Tus hijos te juran Exhalar en tus aras su aliento, Si el clarín con su bélico acento los convoca a lidiar con valor. ¡Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva! ¡Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria! ¡Un laurel para ti de victoria! ¡Un sepulcro para ellos de honor!
Stanza X: Oh, country, country, your children swear to you to breathe their last for your sake, if the bugle with its warlike accent should call them to fight with courage. For you the olive wreathes! A memory for them of glory! For you a laurel of victory! A tomb for them of honor!
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News Around the Republic of Mexico | October 2009 
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